From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Article from 'The Motor' magazine detailing a high-speed road test of a Lagonda V12 on the German autobahn.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 160\4\ scan0010 | |
| Date | 7th March 1939 | |
| March 7, 1939. 171 The Motor TO RAISE UPON THE COURSE some months and which had been entirely out of the manufacturers' hands during this period. Picking the car up in Brussels, the crew of Gordon Wilkins and Patrick Wynn, who accompanied me last year on a similar trip, stowed themselves away with luggage, and we made our first stop at Liege. The following morning we joined a most interesting section of autobahn where it runs right through the midst of Germany's industrial area. Evidently in this country the excuse of concentrated buildings is not allowed to stand in the way of a modern system of highways. Despite the handicap of concentrated lorry traffic, and by lorries I mean monsters with two trailers and an overall length exceeding 120 ft., we all found, driving in turns, that 80-83 miles could be placed in the hour on such roads. Our Show report accomplished and, with a new set of Champion LA. {L. A. Archer} 10 plugs installed as a precaution, we thought it would be of some interest to see what average speeds could be made in safety on the return journey. A 100.6 Average on the Road Due to the heavy lorry traffic which I have already mentioned, it is impossible to keep up a maximum speed for hours together without ever slowing down. For this reason we considered a run of 170 miles in two hours would perhaps form the best mark at which to aim. I am one who believes in starting as quickly as possible, with a view to building up a reserve of speed which may be valuable later in the journey. I therefore put the r.p.m. to 5,200 immediately on joining the Berlin Ring road, but was agreeably surprised when we averaged 100.6 m.p.h. for the first quarter of an hour. With a view to saving the tyres, I slowed down to 97.8 for the half-hour, and, although never driving flat out, I covered 97.24 miles in the first hour of running, possibly the longest distance ever covered on the road by three people in this time. Travel at such speed is tremendously exhilarating; the countryside sweeps past at an even rate and the whole landscape changes in a minute, for one has covered over a mile and a half in that time. Nor on these magnificent highways is it any strain to the driver once he has mastered the peculiar technique involved. MOTORING in "Everyday" Cars TYPE. The 12-cylinder short-stroke engine used on the Lagonda which ran for 2 1/4 hours at over 5,000 r.p.m. without showing the slightest signs of distress or deterioration in power. A Summary of Two Outstanding Runs: A Streamlined Bentley Does 107 m.p.h. in an Hour on Montlhery Track with Amazingly Low Fuel Consumption; a Standard Lagonda Saloon Covers 97.24 Miles in an Hour on the Berlin-Hanover Autobahn and Achieves an 87 m.p.h. Average for 215 Miles By Laurence Pomeroy, Junr. Reverting to our trip, I continued to drive for the fifth quarter of an hour, by which time we had joined the main Berlin to Industrial Regions section, with a slight drop in speed. This falling off was accentuated, as immediately afterwards we stopped to refuel, taking a photograph or so, after which Gordon Wilkins took over. With all this, Wilkins only got 53.4 m.p.h. in the sixth quarter, but he steadily improved on this to 100.1 m.p.h. in the last quarter of two hours. This was certainly pleasing, for it showed the car was in just as good a condition at the end of two hours' running as it was at the beginning. During this time we covered 294 kilometres, or nearly 183 miles, at the magnificent speed of 91.29 m.p.h., with a running average, excluding stops, of 95.26 m.p.h. A Detailed Timing It is worth emphasizing that this run was done in a casual and accidental fashion, with no preparation, and on ordinary German alcohol pump fuel and Castrol XL oil. The Dunlop tyres were pumped up to 40 lb. per square inch and showed no marking either front or rear. The water temperature remained consistently at just under 80 degrees, and the Lockheed brakes, which had to be used powerfully on high speeds on one or two occasions, always pulled up dead square and showed not the faintest traces of fading. Adding that we had three up and a tremendous amount of luggage, we thought the run an outstandingly good one, and were particularly pleased to be able to wire a summary as follows:— DUSSELDORF, February 22, 1939. Bicknell, Chancery 7157, London. Starting junction Berlin ring Stettin autobahn, Lagonda twelve saloon, three up, covered ensuing 346.8 kilometres to Hanover, end of autobahn two hours 29 minutes 87 m.p.h. average including five minutes fuel stop, 40 KM under repair, half width. Two hours 294 KM, 91.29 m.p.h. including stop, 95.26 excluding stop. First hour, first quarter, 40.5 KM 100.6 m.p.h. Second 38 KM 94.39. Third 39.1 KM 97.12. Fourth 39 KM 96.87. Total 156.6 KM 97.24 m.p.h. Second hour, first quarter 38.1 KM 94.6 m.p.h. Second quarter 21.5 KM including refuel stop 53.4 m.p.h. Third 37.5 KM 93 m.p.h. Fourth 40.3 KM 100.1 m.p.h. Total 137.4 KM 83.33 m.p.h. Lagonda ran perfectly within limit, no risks, as fast at end as beginning. Distances measured kilometre posts, speeds timed three watches. Heil W.O.B. A21 | ||